Cartridge-feeding mechanism for machine guns



July 3, 1923. 1,460,800

M. L. JOHNS-TON CARTRIDGE FEEDING MECHANISM FOR MACHINE GUNS Filed sept. le, 1918 m J m m m M N%\ @v QM. E QQ @n R. N

" UNITE Patented July 3, 1923.

D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

4IVIZILLARI) yL JOHNSTON, OF UTICA, NEW YORK.

CARTRIDGE-FEEDING MECHANISM FOR MACHINE GUNS.

Application led September 16, 1918. Serial No. 254,217.

' ing mechanism for machine guns, and I de# clare the following to be a full, clear, concise and exact description thereof sufficient toenable anyone skilled in the art to which it-.ap-pertains to make and use the same, ref- A erence being had to the accompanying drawin-gs'in which like reference characters refer to. likeparts throughout the specification.

-v The object of the invention is to provide a simple device that will revolve the cartridge carrier of an` automatic machinev gun invention assembled thereto;

in such a manner as to bring successively the cartridges into loading position. Sufficient parts.y of a machine gun to which the invention is applied areherein illustrated for the purpose of comprehending it. p

The object willbe understood by referring tothe drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a machine gun, showing parts broken away, andthe Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective View of the' cartridge carrieremployed; f Fig, 3 is an enlarged perspective 4,view of the latch carrier actuator, the latch thereof having been removed;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view on the scale of. Fig. 3showing ajperspective view of the pawl and spring attached, which are used;

Fig. 5 is a plan View looking from beneath upward of the latch carrier actuator;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view on the scale of. Fig. 3, showing a side elevation of the pawl and spring attached.

Referring more 'particularly to the drawings, the invention embodies a hollow cylin der -1- to which is formed in an integral manner a depending wall 2. The lower portion of the wall 2 supports two plates 3 and 4, also formed integral with the wall 2. A chamber 5 for the mounting of a pawl or latch 6 is provided between the plates 3 and 4. Each of the plates 3 and 4 has a cut or narrow recess 7-7 with open ends. These recesses 7 extend a short distance into the wall 2 to form a bearing for the studs or shafts 8-8 that are mounted to extend from either side of the pawl 6.

1 he pawl 6 is equipped with a slot at 10 which slot extends around the end 11 and is adapted for housing the end of a spring 12. The extreme end 13 of the spring 12 is secured in a hole 50 formed at an angle to the end of the slot 10 and the other or free end of the spring 12 extends outward from the rear surface of the pawl 6 and rests when the pawl 6 is assembled within the chamber 5,'formed between the plates 3 and 4, against the adjacent surface of the wall 2, whereby to force the end 14 of the pawl 6 normally outward upon the studs or shaftsl 8-8 as a fulcrum. The pawl 6 is held within the chamber 5, however, when the parts are assembled, by the adjacent wall of a chamber formed within thepart 9 of the receiver 51. The shank 15 of the pawl 6 can be pushed within the chamber 5, against the tension of the spring 12, whereby the surface 16 of the end 14 will aline with the edges 17--18 of the plates 3 and 4 respectively.

In operation, the invention is mounted to an automatic machine gun 20 in such man# ner that the hollow cylinder -1 is located within the carrier tube 22 thereof. The actuator shaft 23 projects loosely through 1When the gun is discharged, a part of the gases of explosion expand through the passageway 25 communicating with the bore 26 of the barrel 27, thereby leading the gases to the gas chamber aligning with the tube 22. The gases expand further through the spiral channel 28 of the gas delayer and finally reach the head 29 of the piston. The piston is forced, thereby', rearwardly to carry the breech bolt 30 backward. Immediately the extractors 31-31 of the breech bolt 30 clear the channels 32formed between the flanges or ribs 33 of the cartridge carrier, the shoulder 36 mounted to move with the actuator shaft 23 will strike the contiguous edge of the hollow cylinder '-1- and force the same together with its connected parts, including the pawl 6, towards the rear. Immediately the pawl 6 begins to move toward the rear and out of the chamber in part 9 of the receiver 51, the head 14 thereof will spring to the right, if looking in a direction indicated by standing at the breech and facing the muzzle, whereby the beveled side 36?l 0i' said head 14 will slide past the` beveled edge. 37 of the adjacent rib 33 and be in position to enter the next succeeding channel 32 to the right of said carrier and, as it progresses into said channel 32 it will cause said carrier to rotate through a given arc to effect an alignment of: the channel 32|y between the contiguous flanges 33 with the edges 17 and 18 of the plates 3 and 4 respectively. The flanges 0r ribs 33 are reduced a given distance at 4Q-40 on either side t0 allow' for a limited projection of the head 14 ot the 13a-Wl 6A and the adjacent portions of the plates 3 and 4.

' This rotation of the cartridge carrier. is adapted to place a cartridge into loading position, s0 that when the breech bolt 30 again goes forward under the tension of the coiled spring 41, the. shoulder 42 of the sleeve 43, which is integral with and moves with the member 44 for. actuating the breech bolt 3.0, will make contact with the adjacent edge of the hollow cylinder -1- and force the same, together with its connected parts, inoludingfthe pawl 6, t0 original position illustrated byY dotted lines in Fig- 1.y It will be noted' that the shoulder 36 and the shoul- (161242 d0 not make contact with the. respective edges of the hollow cylinder 41;, until near the. limiting position of their respective motions, whereby the resultant motion ot the. sleeve -1-iand pawl 6 is comparatively small, although sufficient to effect the desired function of those parts.

Immediately the pawl 6V clears the channel 3:2, on the; return motion of the shaft 23, it will be forced against the pressure off the vspring 1Q, within the. chamber in part 9. of

e receiver 5.1, whereby1 said head 14 of the paWl 6. will be ready to spring again towards the left to. enter the next succeeding channel 3Q Vto the left of the carrier, when the latch carrier again moves towards the rear.

i The sides of the breech bolt 30 taper towards the bottom to. tit into corresponding recesses in the receiver portion 51 of the machine gun, wherebg7 t0, hold the breech bolt 30 in vertical position and so. that it can slide horizontally. i

Having thus. described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is! 1. In a machine gun having a cartridge carrier, a latch carrier, a demountable latch in said carrier, spring means for actuating said latch laterally, and means for periodically striking the latch carrier, whereby to revolve the cartridge. carrier to bring. the cartridges into loading position.-

2f In a machine gun having a cartridge carrier, a latch carrier, a demountable latch mounted in said carrier, automatic means for actuating said latch laterally, and means for impinging against said latch carrier, wyheref by to actuate said latch in a longitudinal manner to revolve the cartridge carrier to bring the cartridges into loading position.

3. Inl a machine gun having? a cartridge carrier with beveled sid-es,v a demountable latch carrier, a latch having a beveled edge adapted to make contact with said beveled edges of' the carrier, a spr-ing forl actuating said latch laterally, whereby tov engage.: the beveled edgev thereofl successively Withthe beveled edges 0f` the carrier, and-automatic means for actuating said latchl lon-gitaidi-` nally, whereby to revolve saidcartridge car-v rier to bring the cartridges into loading po.- sition.

4. In a machine, gun having al cartridge v MILL/ARD L. aonivsroiji.' 

